Course Design

Course design is a creative act. You will need to consider numerous variables and make many choices. Many faculty are tempted to design a course by listing the readings or topics they want to cover. But a learner-focused approach starts with determining the short-term and long-term learning goals and 'designing backwards'. This handout walks you through the steps you might wish to take in designing your course from the perspective of what you want students to learn. This open template may also be useful. Finally, this video series with Grant Wiggins, co-author of Understanding by Design, explains the principles of backward design and how students benefit from this approach. He goes on to explain how this approach can help you clarify student learning goals, craft effective learning activities, and devise learning assessments that reveal student learning.